The Russo-Polish War of 1654–1667 unfolded against the turbulent backdrop of the Deluge and followed on the heels of earlier conflicts, such as the Khmelnytsky Uprising. As Sweden and Russia exploited the Commonwealth's internal turmoil, Lithuania faced simultaneous threats from Russian advances in the east and Swedish incursions from the north. Russia’s involvement initially stemmed from the Pereyaslav Agreement with the Cossacks, giving Moscow influence over Ukrainian lands and sparking the war with the Commonwealth.
Polish-Russian War 1654–1667. © Hoodinski
During the early phases of the conflict, Russian forces captured Smolensk and large portions of Lithuania, including Vilnius, while the Commonwealth struggled under siege from both Swedish and Russian armies. Lithuanian leaders like Janusz Radziwiłł attempted to fend off Russian forces, but disunity within the Commonwealth left Lithuania vulnerable. Meanwhile, Ukrainian territory became a battleground between the Polish Crown, Cossack factions, and Moscow, with figures like Bohdan Khmelnytsky and Ivan Vyhovsky shifting allegiances.
The war intensified in 1660 when the Commonwealth, having ended the Swedish conflict through the Treaty of Oliva, focused on reclaiming lost territories. Key victories, such as the Battle of Polonka and the defeat of Vasily Sheremetev at Chudniv, temporarily reversed Russian gains. However, continued Ukrainian unrest, including the rise of Petro Doroshenko and the division of Ukraine along the Dnieper River, complicated the Commonwealth’s efforts. Lithuania managed to recover some areas, but the strain of constant warfare undermined its long-term stability.
The conflict concluded with the 1667 Truce of Andrusovo, which marked a turning point in Eastern Europe. Russia retained left-bank Ukraine, including Kiev, and Smolensk, cementing its rise as a regional power. The Commonwealth emerged from the conflict exhausted, with Lithuania weakened and its borders diminished. The failure to consolidate power in Ukraine and the east set the stage for further Russian expansion and eroded the Commonwealth's influence, foreshadowing the gradual decline of Polish-Lithuanian dominance in the region.